Device for opening and closing a closure element

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for opening and closing a closure element which opens along the height thereof when a manual pressure is applied against two removable parts that are resting on a base, which may be coupled with a means for delivering or releasing liquids.

The application disclosed herein is a continuation-in-part of International Application PCT/FR2006/001633, filed Jul. 7, 2006, which claims priority of French App'l No. 0507365, filed Jul. 11, 2005 and of French App'l No. 0509742, filed Sep. 23, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for opening and closing a container or means for opening and closing such container.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Opening and closing devices of containers are generally performed using a cap or a plug which may be twisted or threaded into the tip of the container. Alternatively, a cork opener or bottle opener may be used. However, at this time no devices allow for opening and closing a closure element or a cap element itself. Also, no devices allow for opening and closing a closure element or a cap element itself which may be advantageously coupled with a means for delivering or releasing liquids.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for opening and closing a container or means for opening and closing such container, which may be coupled with a means for delivering or releasing liquids.

The present invention relates to a novel device for opening and closing a closure element or a cap element which comprises a single element and may be adapted to any types of containers or bottles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. displays the closing/opening device in a closed configuration.

FIG. 2. displays the closing/opening device in an opened configuration.

FIG. 3. displays the closing/opening device of a straw-equipped closure element in a closed position. The closing/opening device comprises removable or mobile parts (1), a base (2), a straw (3) having a fixed part (6) and a flexible part (7), a cap or reinforcement (5) and a male/female closing system (8, 9) for sealing one end of the straw, thereby preventing the liquid to flow outside of the bottle through the straw (3).

FIG. 4. displays the closing/opening device of a straw-equipped closure element in an opened configuration, showing the removable parts (1), the base (2), the straw (3), fixed part (6) and flexible part (7) of the straw, and means for maintaining the straw in a vertical position within the removable parts of the opening/closing device (4).

FIG. 5. displays the opening/closing device of a straw-equipped closure element, wherein the removable or mobile parts (1) are opened along the height of the device, and wherein the flexible part (7) of the straw is extended out of the base (2), thereby allowing the user to easily drink from the straw.

FIG. 6. displays the closing/opening device of a straw-equipped closure element in a closed position. The closing/opening device comprises removable or mobile parts (1), a base (2), a vaporizer or pump (10), a cap or reinforcement (5) and a male/female closing system (8, 9) for sealing the reinforcement cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The novel device for opening and closing a cap of a container comprises two removable parts, a base, and a straw, wherein said removable parts are resting on the base, wherein said base is positioned onto the tip of said container, wherein said straw is coupled to and extends through the base, and wherein the cap is opened along the height by applying pressure onto said removable parts.

In one embodiment, the novel opening and closing device of a closure element or cap according to the present invention comprises two removable parts (1) and a base (2). The removable parts (1) are resting onto the base (2). The opening and closing device may be opened along the height thereof when a manual pressure is applied against said removable parts (1). The base itself (2) may be twisted or threaded onto to the tip or bottleneck of the container.

The opening and closing device according to the present invention is particularly suitable for bottles containing any types of liquids. By way of example, the bottles may contain liquids intended for the consumption, such as beverages.

According to one embodiment, the device may be used for opening and closing any types of bottles or containers, which may contain any types of beverages, and more generally drinking liquids. Drinking may then be easily performed by applying pressure onto the removable parts (1) as described above to open the bottle and bringing to the mouth the tips of the removable parts (1) of the bottle cap. The cap is wide-opened along the height by applying pressure onto said removable parts (1).

According to one embodiment, the closing and opening device may be equipped coupled with a means for delivering or releasing liquids. These means for delivering or releasing liquids which are coupled with the closing and opening device include without any limitations a straw, a vaporizer, an atomizer, a venturi system, a water pipe, a spray nozzle, a dropping device, a pump, or a device well known to a skilled person in the art. The cap is wide-opened along the height by applying pressure onto said removable parts (1) and means for delivering or releasing liquids is rendered accessible.

The device for opening and closing a cap of a container may comprise two removable parts (1), a base (2), and a straw (3), wherein said removable parts (1) are resting on the base (2), wherein said base (2) is positioned onto the tip of said container, wherein said straw (3) is coupled to and extends through the base (2), and wherein the cap is opened along the height by applying pressure onto said removable parts (1).

Therefore, according to this embodiment of the present invention, the closing and opening device may be equipped with a straw (3). The base (2) is thus adapted to receive a straw which extends through said base as showed in FIGS. 3-5. The straw (3) contains a fixed part (6) having one end which is positioned inside of the bottle in contact with the liquid, a second opposite end positioned outside of the bottle, and a flexible part (7) which is located at the level of the base (2), and may be extended by pulling out the outer end of the straw located outside of the bottle.

According to this embodiment, the removable lateral parts (1) may be drawn aside by applying manual pressure thereon in order to open the opening/closing device along the height to free the straw.

The removable parts (1) may also comprise means for abutment of the straw which allows maintaining the straw in a vertical position. The removable parts (1) may further comprise a reinforcement cap (5) positioned on the removable parts for sealing the outer end of the fixed part (6) of the straw. The reinforcement cap (5) further comprises a male/female closing system for maintaining the reinforcement cap closed.

As described above, the straw conveniently comprises a fixed part (6) and a flexible part (7). The user may thus unfold the flexible part (7) of the straw by pulling out the outer end of the fixed part of the straw (6) before drinking from the straw. Thereafter, the user may fold back the straw and the removable parts (1) to their initial closed positions.

The inner end of the fixed part of the straw extends inside the container and is immersed in the liquid. The inner end may be advantageously curved to collect the whole liquid within the bottle.

With reference to the Figures, the device comprises two removable parts (1) that may be according to one embodiment and without any limitations, in the form of crocodile jaws as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In order to open the cap, the user may apply a manual pressure on both removable parts (1) to pull them aside. The removable parts (1) may rest on the base (2) which may be twisted or threaded onto the bottle. A straw (3) extends through the base inside the bottle. The removable parts (1) comprise means for abutment of the straw (4) in a vertical orientation and for maintaining the straw vertically, when the opening/closing device is closed. The removable parts also comprise a reinforcement cap (5) for sealing the straw and a male/female closing device (8/9) for tightening the reinforcement cap (5) when closed. The straw (3) has a fixed portion (6) and a flexible portion (7), said flexible portion may unfold in order to pull out the straw before drinking.

As shown in FIG. 6, the device may comprise two removable parts (1) that may be according to one embodiment and without any limitations, in the form of crocodile jaws. In order to open the cap, the user may apply a manual pressure on both removable parts (1) to pull them aside. The removable parts (1) may rest on the base (2) which may be twisted or threaded onto the bottle. A vaporizer (10) extends through the base (2) inside the bottle. The removable parts also comprise a reinforcement cap (5) and a male/female closing device (8/9) for sealing the reinforcement cap (5) closed.

The opening/closing device which comprises the removable parts (1) and the base (2) may be made of plastic or any other suitable materials well known to the skilled person in the art.

The device according to the present invention may be adapted to any types of containers containing any liquids for consumption, for cosmetics, for containing cleaning liquid products or any other similar uses.

The present invention further relates to a container comprising the opening/closing device as described above. 

1. Device for opening and closing a cap of a container comprising two removable parts, a base, and a straw, wherein said removable parts are resting on the base, wherein said base is positioned onto the tip of said container, wherein said straw is coupled to and extends through the base, and wherein the cap is opened along the height by applying pressure onto said removable parts.
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the base is twisted or threaded onto the tip of said container.
 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the straw has a fixed part and a flexible part and wherein said flexible part is located at the level of the base.
 4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said fixed part of the straw has an inner end located below the base and inside the bottle, and an outer end located above the base, and the flexible part may unfold by pulling out the outer end of the straw.
 5. Device according to claim 1, wherein said removable parts comprise a vertical abutment or wedge for maintaining the straw in a vertical position when said device is closed.
 6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said removable parts comprise a reinforcement cap for sealing the straw.
 7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the reinforcement cap comprises a male/female closing system which maintains the reinforcement cap in a tight closed position.
 8. Device according to claim 7, which is threaded or twisted to a bottle.
 9. Device according to claim 1, which is made of plastic.
 10. A container comprising a device as in claim
 1. 